Regional measure
Measure B: The SMART Initiative
Ballot Measure
SMART is our regional train, running from Sonoma County through Petaluma down into Marin County. This vote decides whether to renew the sales tax that runs it.
SMART is an amazing piece of infrastructure for family-friendly Petaluma. Kids and seniors ride free. SMART had a record 1.3 million riders last year. The separated pathway next to the tracks (funded and built by SMART) is the longest protected corridor in the North Bay, with 1.28 million walk/bike trips in the past year.
A Yes vote extends the quarter-cent SMART sales tax we already pay (eg. buy a $10 sandwich at Ray's and $0.025 goes to SMART). Voters first approved this tax in 2008, and it expires in 2029. This isn't a new tax, and without it SMART can't run the train (fwiw this is how all transit is funded, a combo of fares and local taxes).
Sonoma County
Sonoma County Supervisor, District 2
The Job
One of five supervisors who run Sonoma County. District 2 covers Petaluma, Cotati, Penngrove, and part of Rohnert Park. They oversee the county budget, roads and parks, libraries, public health, and homeless services.
Joanna Paun has served on the Petaluma City Schools Board of Education for seven years, including time as its president. Joanna is raising a family of four children in Petaluma, and works as Sonoma County's foster and homeless youth education coordinator. On the school board she's done the actual work of balancing real money against real kids' needs. She was an early advocate for safe streets around Petaluma schools. Joanna's platform of housing affordability, infrastructure, accountability, and improving school services aligns with my values.
State
State Assembly, District 12
The Job
One of 80 assemblymembers in Sacramento. Writes California laws alongside the State Senate. Think housing mandates, school funding formulas, and transportation money for the North Bay.
Eric Lucan is a Marin County Supervisor and former three-term Novato city councilmember. Over a decade on the SMART board (including as chair) and the Transportation Authority of Marin, he helped deliver the SMART Train and free fares for youth and seniors. Eric led marketing for Mike's Bikes and he rides around Novato with his young family; he understands street safety firsthand. Eric's platform prioritizes affordability for families, climate resilience, and supporting our local economy.
State
State Senate, District 2
The Job
Same deal as the State Assembly but the other chamber: 40 state senators who also write California laws. Together the Senate and Assembly decide how the state spends money and what laws Californians live by.
Damon Connolly is our current Assemblymember, and previously served as a Marin County Supervisor, San Rafael City Councilmember, and school board president. He's running for State Senate. He's already fluent in key North Bay issues (SMART, school funding, housing mandates). During his supervisor term, he served on the Transportation Authority of Marin and the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission, so North Bay transportation is familiar to him.
Federal
U.S. House, District 2
The Job
Our federal representative in the House in Washington, D.C. One of 435 people who vote on federal laws and the national budget; the money that flows back to Petaluma for things like transit, schools, and disaster relief.
Jared Huffman has represented us in the House since 2013 and he is running for re-election. He previously served in the California State Assembly and on the Marin Municipal Water District board. He has 10+ years of being solid on transit, climate, and housing investment. He's now the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, where he helped shape the fire resilience and water provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.